For students entering in 2023-24

» Music - Performance, Piano Emphasis (B.M.): Suggested 4-year Plan for 2023-24

How to Use your 4-year Plan

This is a suggested 4-year plan and not meant to replace regular academic advising.
The plan is flexible and can be changed to accommodate studying abroad, a second major/minor(s) or AP/IB credits.
You should work with an academic advisor to develop a plan that meets their interests and goals.
You must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate and 65 major-specific credits to earn a B.M. in Music - Performance, Piano Emphasis.
Transfer students and those looking to add as a second major should contact the program advisor for degree planning.
If you have any questions, please contact music@chapman.edu.

Suggested 4-year Plan

We encourage you to select your General Education (GE) and minor/second major/Themed Inquiry/Honors program around the plan below. Once you fill your GE classes around your major classes, you will have a better idea of space remaining each semester when choosing your Exploration Focus.
To be enrolled full time, you must take at least 12 credits a semester.
In order to graduate within 4 years, we recommend you take 30 credits a year.
During junior and senior year, for classes with generally low enrollment, the four-year plan will indicate the required course and “(or MUS 493)”. MUS 493 is private instruction that substitutes for the course if enrollment is low, such that you take the class as private lessons.
Take 4 semesters of Large Ensemble. If your teachers place you in an instrumental ensemble like orchestra or wind symphony, that’s your large ensemble for the semester.  If not, take choir or another large ensemble; consult with your teacher each semester for your best options.  Large Ensemble is shown below in the first four semesters, but later semesters may work even better.

Year 1

Fall Semester (7 credits for major)

MUS 104 Piano (2 credits)
MUS 111 Accompanying Class (0.5 credits)
MUS 316 Studio Class (0.5 credits)
MUS 133 Theory I (2 credits)
MUS 135 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
Large ensemble (1 credit)

Spring Semester (6.5-7 credits for major)

MUS 104 - Piano (2 credits)
MUS 112 - Intro to Alexander Technique (recommended) (1 credit)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
MUS 134 - Theory II (2 credits)
MUS 136 - Aural Skills II (1 credit)
Large ensemble (1 credit)

Year 2

Fall Semester (11 credits for major)

MUS 102A - Compendium of Western Music History I (3 credits)
MUS 104 - Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
MUS 233 - Theory III (2 credits)
MUS 235 - Aural Skills III (1 credit)
MUS 238 - Improvisation: Techniques and Experiments (1 credit)
MUS 280 - Music Information Literacy (0 credit)
MUS 322D - Small Ensemble - Piano (0.5 credit) [this or whichever semester recommended by teacher]
Large ensemble (1 credit)

Spring Semester (11.5 credits for major)

MUS 102B - Compendium of Western Music HIstory II (3 credits)
MUS 104 - Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
MUS 234 - Theory IV (2 credits)
MUS 236 -Aural Skills IV (1 credit)
MUS 244 - Principles of Music Technology (2 credits)
Large ensemble (1 credit)

Year 3

If you are on the classical/musical theatre track or the jazz/popular track, take 9 credits total from the list at the bottom of this page during your last 4 semesters in any order.

Fall Semester (11.5 credits for major)

MUS 404 - Advanced Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
MUS 332 - A/B/C Musical Cultures or MUS 496D - Musical Cultures (3 credits)
MUS 330 - Form and Harmonic Analysis or MUS 340 - Instrumentation and Beginning Orchestration (2 credits) [any semester from now on]
MUS 454 - Principles of Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 475 - Piano Pedagogy or MUS 493N - Directed Research: Piano Pedagogy (2 credits) [or fall senior year]

Spring Semester (5.5 credits for major)

MUS 404 - Advanced Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
Upper-Division Music Studies Elective (3 credits)*

Year 4

Fall Semester (9.5 credits for major)

MUS 404 - Advanced Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
MUS 350 - Principles of Piano Technology (1 credit) [or fall junior year]
MUS 494 - Piano History and Literature or MUS 4930 - Directed Research: Piano Literature (3 credits) [or fall junior year]
MUSB 100 - Intro to the Business of Music (3 credits)

Spring Semester (2.5 credits for major)

MUS 404 - Advanced Piano (2 credits)
MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
MUS 498E - Senior Recital in Instrumental Performance, Piano Area - Full Solo Program (0 credits)

(*)  Take one of these upper-division Music Studies Electives any time during junior or senior year, when offered. 

MUS 301 - Music History and Literature I (3 credits)
MUS 302 - Music History and Literature II (3 credits)
MUS 303 - Music History and Literature III (3 credits)
MUS 304 - Music History and Literature IV (3 credits)
MUS 332A - Musical Cultures of Africa/Middle East (3 credits)
MUS 332B - Musical Cultures of Asia/Pacific (3 credits)
MUS 332C - Musical Cultures of the Americas (3 credits)
MUS 345 - History of Musical Theatre (3 credits)
MUS 405 - Music History and Literature V (3 credits)
MUS 456 - Song Literature and History (3 credits)
MUS 461- Psychology of Music (3 credits)
MUS 468 - Guitar Literature and History (3 credits)
MUS 494 - Piano Literature and History (3 credits)
MUS 496C - Seminar: Topics in Music History and Literature (3 credits)
MUS 496D - Seminar: Topics in World Music and Culture (3 credits)
MUS 496E - Opera History and Literature (3 credits)